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Hillsboro Foster Care Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Find out why we are one of the best Hillsboro foster care sexual abuse law firms
Hillsboro Foster Care Sexual Abuse Attorney
No child should ever suffer abuse, especially in a system meant to protect them. If you or someone you love has experienced sexual abuse while in foster care, our dedicated Hillsboro foster care sexual abuse lawyers are here to help. We understand the pain, trauma, and silence that often follow such experiences, and we are committed to helping survivors seek justice and healing.
Our sex abuse attorneys have experience handling complex abuse cases in Hillsboro and will fight to hold negligent institutions and perpetrators accountable. Your voice matters, and your case deserves to be heard.
Let us stand with you, you don’t have to go through this alone. Call now for a free and confidential consultation at (503) 831-9930.
Our Verdicts and Settlements
Settlement
A 14-year-old foster child endured sexual abuse in a Hillsboro foster home. DHS placed the child with a foster parent who had a history of uninvestigated allegations of misconduct.
July 2024
Why Foster Children Are at Greater Risk of Sexual Abuse
Foster care sexual abuse refers to any form of unwanted sexual contact, exploitation, or assault inflicted upon a child placed in foster care. This abuse can be perpetrated by foster parents, extended family members, other children in the home, social workers, or even staff at group homes or foster agencies. Tragically, those who are meant to protect these children are sometimes the very ones who violate that trust.
Children in foster care are particularly vulnerable due to multiple overlapping risk factors. Many lack consistent adult advocates who can detect or report abuse, especially if they’ve been moved between homes frequently. The emotional trauma of removal from their birth families, combined with a lack of long-term stability, makes them easy targets for predators.
Moreover, inadequate background checks or supervision of foster families, along with poor oversight from agencies or state officials, can allow abusers to operate unchecked.
Warning Signs of Foster Care Sexual Abuse May Include:
- Sudden behavioral changes such as aggression, withdrawal, or depression
- Age-inappropriate sexual behavior or knowledge
- Nightmares, bedwetting, or fear of being alone
- Unexplained injuries or discomfort in private areas
- Self-harm, eating disorders, or substance abuse
Recognizing these signs and understanding the environment that enables abuse is the first step toward protecting vulnerable children and holding abusers accountable.
Types of Foster Abuse Sexual Cases in Hillsboro
Sexual abuse in foster care can take many forms, and each one can leave lasting physical and emotional scars. Understanding the different types of abuse is the first step in recognizing the warning signs and seeking justice. Below are the most common forms of foster care abuse our legal team encounters in Hillsboro.
- Overt Sexual Abuse: Inappropriate touching, coercion, or sexual exploitation by foster parents, relatives, caretakers, or others in the home.
- Human Trafficking or Exploitation: In extreme and deeply disturbing cases, foster children may be trafficked or forced into labor or sexual exploitation.
- Agency Negligence or Oversight Failures: When child welfare agencies fail to properly screen, monitor, or respond to reports of sexual abuse within a foster home.
- Abuse by Other Household Members: Sexual Abuse committed by other children, relatives, or individuals living in the foster home.
- Adult Foster Care Sexual Abuse: When an adult placed in foster care due to their vulnerability is sexually abused, it is not only a crime, but can be taken up in a civil lawsuit to seek damages. That’s where our local foster care abuse lawyers can help.
Realities in Hillsboro and Oregon’s Foster Care System
Oregon’s foster care system, including Hillsboro, has faced significant scrutiny due to systemic failures that have led to severe harm, including sexual abuse, of children in its care.
Notable Cases and Lawsuits
- In December 2023, the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) agreed to a record $40 million settlement with four former foster children who suffered sexual and physical abuse in a Marion County foster home. The lawsuit revealed that DHS caseworkers ignored clear signs of abuse and attempted to conceal the mistreatment, including instances where a child sustained seven broken bones. [1]
- In September 2024, a federal judge approved a class-action settlement mandating federally overseen reforms in Oregon’s foster care system. The lawsuit, initiated in 2019, alleged that DHS failed to ensure the safety and well-being of foster children, leading to systemic neglect and abuse. [2]
Oversight and Systemic Failures
The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is responsible for overseeing the state’s foster care system. However, multiple audits and reports have highlighted chronic issues, including:
- Understaffing and High Turnover: A 2018 audit revealed that DHS struggled with severe caseworker understaffing, leading to burnout and high turnover rates. This compromised the agency’s ability to monitor foster homes effectively.
- Inadequate Training and Oversight: Reports indicated that some staff members lacked proper training, and there were failures in conducting thorough background checks on foster caregivers.
- Placement Shortages: Due to a dwindling supply of suitable foster homes, children were sometimes placed in inappropriate settings, including hotels, which are ill-equipped to meet their needs.
Table of Contents
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Hillsboro Foster Care Sexual Abuse Attorney
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Our Verdicts and Settlements
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Why Foster Children Are at Greater Risk of Sexual Abuse
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Types of Foster Abuse Sexual Cases in Hillsboro
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Realities in Hillsboro and Oregon’s Foster Care System
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Who Can Be Held Liable in Hillsboro Foster Care Sexual Abuse Cases?
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Legal Rights of Foster Care Sexual Abuse Survivors and Their Families in Hillsboro
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Statute of Limitations for Foster Care Sexual Abuse Cases in Oregon
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What Our Clients Are Saying About Us - Client Reviews
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Get a Free Consultation From a Hillsboro Foster Care Abuse Attorney Today
Who Can Be Held Liable in Hillsboro Foster Care Sexual Abuse Cases?
In Hillsboro and throughout Washington County, multiple parties may be held legally responsible when a foster child is sexually abused. While the abuser is always at the center of the harm, the system that enabled the abuse often shares in the liability.
Potentially liable parties include:
1. The Abuser
This may include a Hillsboro-based foster parent, caregiver, relative in the foster household, caseworker, or another child in the home who committed the abuse.
2. Hillsboro Foster Parents
Foster care parents in Hillsboro who failed to protect the child by allowing dangerous individuals access to the home, neglecting signs of abuse, or failing to report concerning behaviors, may be held directly liable.
3. Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) – Hillsboro Office
The ODHS Child Welfare office serving Washington County, including Hillsboro, is responsible for vetting, placing, and monitoring children in care. If ODHS failed to:
- Conduct proper background checks
- Investigate prior abuse allegations
- Follow up on warning signs or reports
…they may be held accountable in civil court.
4. Local Private Foster Care Agencies
If the child was placed through a private agency operating in Hillsboro or nearby cities like Beaverton or Tigard, the agency may share liability for negligent placement, poor supervision, or failure to report abuse.
5. Mandated Reporters in Washington County
Teachers, school staff, counselors, doctors, and others who work with children in Hillsboro are legally required to report any suspected abuse. Failure to do so can result in liability, especially if inaction contributed to ongoing harm.
Legal Rights of Foster Care Sexual Abuse Survivors and Their Families in Hillsboro
Survivors of sexual abuse in the foster care system have powerful legal rights, both under Oregon state law and federal law. In Hillsboro, victims and their families have the ability to pursue justice not only against the abuser but also against negligent institutions that failed to protect them.
The Right to File a Civil Lawsuit
Survivors in Hillsboro may file a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and trauma
- Medical and mental health treatment costs
- Loss of quality of life
- Punitive damages in extreme cases
Our Hillsboro personal injury lawyers can help you file a civil suit against individuals (such as the molester) as well as entities like ODHS or a private foster care agency if their negligence contributed to the abuse.
The Right to Anonymity and Protection
In Hillsboro court proceedings, survivors of child sexual abuse may have the right to proceed under a pseudonym to protect their identity. Protective orders may also be issued to shield victims from retaliation or public exposure.
Statute of Limitations for Foster Care Sexual Abuse Cases in Oregon
Under Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 12.117, the law extends the time survivors of child sexual abuse have to file personal injury lawsuits:
Key Deadlines:
- Until the victim’s 40th birthday, or
- Within 5 years of discovering the causal connection between the abuse and their injuries, whichever is later
This is not the standard personal injury statute (which is usually 2 years in Oregon). Because sexual abuse causes long-term trauma and delayed recognition, this extended timeline allows survivors the opportunity to seek justice well into adulthood.
What Our Clients Are Saying About Us – Client Reviews
Get a Free Consultation From a Hillsboro Foster Care Abuse Attorney Today
At Goldberg & Loren, we understand the deep trauma and betrayal that comes with foster care abuse. For over three decades, our attorneys have stood with survivors and their families, fighting relentlessly to hold abusers and negligent agencies accountable.
We’re More Than Just Lawyers. We’re Advocates for Survivors
Our Hillsboro-based legal team brings a powerful combination of local insight, national experience, and unwavering compassion.
Why Families Trust Us:
- 30+ Years of Experience in personal injury and institutional abuse cases
- More than $500 Million Recovered for our clients
- Deep Knowledge of Oregon Law and how it applies to DCFS/Child Welfare negligence
- Contingency-Based Representation – You pay nothing unless we win
- Free, Confidential Consultation to help you understand your legal options
We understand how difficult it is to speak out. That’s why we approach every case with the sensitivity, confidentiality, and aggressive advocacy it deserves. Schedule an in-person or online appointment with us and get the legal guidance you need. We are open now to provide advocacy to foster care abuse victims.
If you suspect a child has suffered abuse in the foster care system, don’t wait.
Call our Hillsboro office today at (503) 831-9930 to schedule your free consultation with our experienced foster care abuse attorney.
Sources:
[1] Social Services DHS offers record $40 million to settle lawsuit from abused foster children. (n.d.). https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2023/12/21/dhs-offers-record-40-million-to-settle-lawsuit-from-abused-foster-children/
[2] Thomas, A. (2024, September 13). Judge approves settlement in lawsuit over abuse in Oregon foster care system. https://www.kptv.com/2024/09/13/judge-approves-settlement-lawsuit-over-abuse-oregon-foster-care-system/
Goldberg & Loren
Phone: (503) 831-9930
We represent clients in Hillsboro, Oregon, who have suffered from sexual abuse in foster care. Our dedicated personal injury attorneys pursue the highest compensation possible.
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